The reality of surviving a winter cold when pregnant (and a mummy!)

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This weekend, we’ve all suffered with winter colds. Hubby seemed to get over his first, and I really think it’s because he could have lemsips and decongestants. Perhaps the fact I have a cold while pregnant or the fact I was cuddled with Toddler H all Friday afternoon coupled with the fact she decided to sleep with her face right in mine, spluttering every sneeze, cough and runny nose straight in my face, didn’t help. I guess that’s mummy life though. Woohoo I hear you say!

So what have I done to easy this cold and just try to feel vaguely human while also being pregnant?

1. Fake lemsip

Hot squash, and hot lemon squash do a good impersonation of lemsip. If I needed a bit of extra ooomph for my head or stuffiness I’d have a paracetamol too.

2. Sleep

It did help being unwell at the weekend as hubby could take over and take H out. But even just putting on Hey Duggee on iplayer and curling on the sofa helped too.

3. Early nights

As soon as H was asleep we soon headed to bed ourselves, going for the sleep it off mantra. Just make sure to have a fake lemsip in bed before you dose off, it does help. Well psychologically it does.

4. Mints and throat sweets

Just make sure they don’t include decongestants!

5. Tissues by the bucket load

This is a-given even if you’re not pregnant.

If you have a toddler who has a cold too, buy three times the amount you usually would just in preparation.

6. Hot bath/shower

You’ll just feel that bit better after! Even a one minute-the-toddler-is-about-to-open-the door-shower helps. I know this, if happened to me this morning. #mumfact

7. Films

Yep, be that parent you always said you wouldn’t, put some kiddies films on, eat chocolate and give into tantrums easier! Ok maybe not, but maybe yes!

8. A bowl of warm water

Pop a towel over your head and lean over the bowl letting the steam clear your nose. At least it feels like you’re doing something!

9. Lemon and honey drink

Lemon and honey are one of those old school mixtures everyone hears about, we’ll try them mixed in warm water. I’m not sure I make it right, but people swear by it!

10. Oranges & fruit

Dosing up on vitamin C, but not too much, I remember horrific headaches a few years ago when j had umpteen oranges, orange juice and vitamin C supplements!

11. Chocolate

Do I need to explain? It’s just needed.

12. Wet wipes

Great for a quick clean if you drop something in your hazy cold induced fog.

Especially vital for the toddler’s new habit of wiping snot over her ENTIRE FACE. Snot eyebrows are lovely. Not.

13. Antibacterial wipes & sprays

Get rid of those nasty germs as soon as you can is my mantra! I want them GONE!

14. Good soap

We have nice moisturising soap and antibacterial. I use the antibac first then moisturising for a second wash… Last thing I want is icky dry hands and a cold.

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16. Mum bun

More mummy-ness, just go with the flow, be comfy and do the bare minimum – concentrate all those efforts in getting better.

17. Panty liners

Yes, being a mummy already or pregnant means those muscles aren’t quite what they were. Apparently. This took me by HUGE surprise given I hadn’t had any experience of the ‘sneezing problem’ until this cold, this weekend, two years after giving birth. Yes, I think I’ve been lucky, but, oh the shock!! I think it must be being pregnant that’s doing it, but come on cold please disappear this is almost as bad a not being able to breathe all night!

Actually it’s spurring me into remembering to do those pelvic floor exercises!

18. Decaf tea/hot chocolate/ coffee

Whatever you prefer, these are a must when you’re feeling rubbish. I have them all, seriously these hormones mean I haven’t a clue what I feel like drinking as I make it never mind before boiling the kettle!

19. Emergency toddler supplies

Crayons, toys, glue, random rubbish the toddler can stick on other random rubbish. Anything really. We ‘made Pom poms’ this morning. What actually happened was H had a piece if wool and waved it about a Pom Pom maker. It kept her quiet for a few minutes #mummywin

20. Calpol/paracetamol

At present paracetamol is OK during pregnancy when needed, I guess this guidance could change, so check before taking it! It definitely helps with the horrid fogginess of a cold! You also can get a fever so best to have some in in case. Similarly with kiddies Calpol is a must have (depending on guidance at the time of reading!).

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21. Moisturisers & Vaseline

All that nose blowing and wiping plays havoc with my skin, and the hand washing with my hands. Moisturiser is a must have mummy essential anyway, but during winter and cold season it doesn’t leave my side.

22. Ask a pharmacist

I always check with a pharmacist before buying anything in pregnancy, and as ingredients might change, I don’t want to list any medicines you can take, in case they change. The nhs website is useful too…

Hope this helps prepare you if you are feeling a cold coming on! If not hopefully you’ve had a giggle (at my expense) to cheer up a dreich January day,

I hated being pregnant when it came to having my cold last winter, I couldnt have any of my usual remedies and it sucked!!!! I feel for you I really do. Just be thankful that you dont have a big bump over the height of summer!!! thats how i got through it! #BloggerClubUKMrs Mummy Harris recently posted…Yoomi Feeding System: The Self-heating Bottle

I could have done with this list when I was pregnant. I remember moaning all the time about how rubbish I felt because I couldn’t take anything but you have managed to list lots of fantastic ideas here. I’m sure all pregnant mumso reading this will be grateful to you for sharing.

I could have done with this list when I was pregnant. I remember moaning all the time about how rubbish I felt because I couldn’t take anything but you have managed to list lots of fantastic ideas here. I’m sure all pregnant mums reading this will be grateful to you for sharing.

Oh no you poor thing! Love the idea of a hoodie and chocolate. I took a pregnancy multivitamin when I was pregnant and managed to avoid most of the nasties. Unfortunately the same can not be said post pregnancy! Thanks for joining us at #BloggerClubUKMudpie Fridays recently posted…10 Minute Craft Ideas for Valentines Day

Oh boo to being ill! I think there is not much worse then a meds free cold. I’m glad you’re feeling better now. Thanks for popping by the #bigpinklinkLouise Pink Pear Bear recently posted…Big Pink Link 48

Good tips! Hope you are all feeling better now. I know how you feel, I am currently 34 weeks pregnant and have a 13 month at home and we have spend the last few weeks battling one viral thing after another, so I’ve basically lived in my hoodies with my mum bun too! Lol

I was pregnant during the winter yet thankfully managed to escape relatively unscathed. The odd time I did feel under the weather a nice hot cup of honey and lemon did the trick #KCACOLSBecky Clark recently posted…#SundayBest week3 – Who I loved this week

I’ve had more colds this winter than I’ve ever had and am also pregnant – typical! And I’d never experienced the sneezing problem until now either!! #KCACOLSCrummy Mummy recently posted…The trouble with the ‘perfect’ birth

Oh bless you I hope you are all feeling better, our office has had a cold which I brought home to my 5 year old. He hates it so much when his nose is blocked and however much we try he cant figure out how to breathe through his mouth so we spend most of our nights sitting upright with him dozing off! I am a hot toddy fan when I have a cold whisky honey and lemon. This is such a helpful list for people that are pregnant, and not! Thank you for linking up to #KCACOLS we hope to see you next Sunday xx

My apologies if you end up with two comments from me! The site went to 404 when I tried to add my first but I didn’t want to risk it if it did not make it to moderation. There are some awful colds going round at the moment its been a really bad winter for germs and viruses. I find that putting a pit of Vicks on your feet with warm socks on at night helps decongestant and have lots of hand cream on standby and lipbalm! Hoodies and fluffy blankets are a must. I hope you feel better soon! Thank you for linking to #KCACOLS we hope to see you next Sunday xx

Oh, poor you! Colds are annoying and irritating at the best of times, but doubly so when you’re pregnant. My wife had a particularly nasty cold during her second pregnancy at about 35 weeks which took her ages to shake off. Thankfully nothing untoward resulted. #KCACOLS

Welcome to New Mummy Blog

I'm Lynne, a UK mummy blogger and SAHM to 3 year old Toddler H and Baby B born summer 2017.
Follow our family days out in Gloucestershire and beyond, our home diy, reviews, life with two kids and of course all those toddler tantrums and mummy madness.

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